#i love fics which explore Carlos's anxiety and his character
Text
It's been a tough year in a lot of ways, but one thing I've been able to consistently count on to bring me joy is the incredible writing in this fandom! I feel like 2023 has been almost a golden age of Tarlos fic. With both the sheer quantity AND quality of fic, it has been a wonderful time to be a Tarlos fic reader! In celebration of this golden age, I wanted to share a list of some of the fic that brought me the most joy in the past year.
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list...as much as I may want to, I can't possibly read everything this fandom has to offer. There's still a lot to get to on my to-read list. And even from the fic I did read, I'm sure I'm forgetting some amazing ones. There's just SO MUCH. But here I have listed (alphabetic by author) some of the fic that most resonated with me the past year, fic that I still think about and reread, and fic that has taken up full time residence in my brain!
There are A LOT...so I'll be putting the list under the cut.
all my blood for the sweetness of his laugh by @alrightbuckaroo
A truly beautiful little fic about Carlos' feelings about TK's laugh. A bit of angst and a lot of love.
anger has told me her real name is grief by alrightbuckaroo
An excellent 4x17/4x18 fic that deals a lot with Carlos' grief and the journey he goes through in those two episodes.
my beatin' heart belongs to you by bartsy
A fic about Carlos' anxiety after the death of his father, manifested in his fears for the safety of his husband. This fic is so beautiful and very in character. I would love it so much if the show would go even a tiny bit in the direction of exploring Carlos' anxiety!
It Beats for You by @basilsunrise
A 4x04 coda, porn with feelings and bottom Carlos...truly, what more could I ask for?? Very hot and SO MANY feelings!
she has almost killed me with love for that boy by @beautifulhigh
Another 4x04 coda (there can never be enough) that's also a study of the different types of love, all of which Carlos has in his life.
How quickly we change overnight by @birdclowns
A pre-canon fic about TK and his relationship with Alex. I particularly love this kind of thing where we have so little concrete information in canon. It's a perfect opportunity for fic, and I really love this one. Alex could easily be handled as some horrible villain, but the way he's handled here is far more realistic and I think it makes my heart break for TK even more.
Even if the World Ends Tomorrow by @bonheur-cafe
A post-apocalypse AU that's a little terrifying but ultimately very hopeful. This is one that I kept thinking about long after I read it.
can i be close to you? by @catanisspicy
A 5+1 fic about TK asking Carlos if he'd still love him if he was a worm. A true delight! This is another fic I still think about all the time.
slowly, then all at once by catanisspicy
A fic about TK and Carlos loving each other, which is one of my favorite things in the world.
The Center of the Maze by @carlos-in-glasses
7 times TK and Carlos thought they would never get married and one time they actually did. This fic covers so many of the most significant moments of their relationship and is so very beautifully written. I think my favorite part is (predictably) the section related to the soulmates scene.
When Soulmates Swim by carlos-in-glasses
A wonderful AU where TK and Carlos get to know each other while swimming together. It's everything: hot, sweet, beautiful, poignant, and sometimes incredibly hilarious.
Release the Hand to Relax the Animal by carlos-in-glasses
A fic that's all about touch and the great sex, past and present, that TK and Carlos have had. A true masterpiece.
We Have Suffered Enough by @chicgeekgirl89
A 4x16 coda. Oh, the soulmates scene! I'm automatically going to love anything even remotely soulmates scene-adjacent, and this one is particularly beautiful.
Shiner by chicgeekgirl89
A 4x15 coda dealing with Carlos finding out about TK's black eye, which is something I desperately wanted to see on screen. I love the way it goes here. It's incredibly sweet.
Cold Feet by @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut
A lovely little fic that has Carlos feeling some big feelings about his soon-to-be husband.
When I'm Like This by cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut
An early season 1 Tarlos fic with a lot of angst and feelings, which is always one of my favorite things. This one is ridiculously hot, yet also filled with so much emotion and feelings and gorgeous writing. Just thinking about it makes me want to reread!
to build a home by @freneticfloetry
A Carlos character study, from pre-series through season 4. If there was ever a character I wanted to study, it's Carlos Reyes. And this fic is beautifully done, expertly exploring the complexities of his character and the gaps canon has left to be filled.
The Sting by @goodways
Shortly after they're married, Carlos gets involved in an FBI sting operation that requires him to go on a date and flirt with another man, something that TK is not thrilled about. This fic is at times funny, emotional, hot and sweet.
First night by goodways
The first time TK and Carlos have sex and all the feelings and attempted avoidance of feelings that comes with it. So many feelings!!!
Take my hand, take my whole life, too by @heartstringsduet
HANDS. What more could I ask for? This fic is an absolutely gorgeous exploration of TK and Carlos' intimacy across their whole lives together. I'm ready to tear up just thinking about it!
But most of it was beautiful by heartstringsduet
An at-home Tarlos honeymoon fic. I call a lot of fic on this list beautiful, but sometimes there's no better word. This fic is beautiful.
broken glass by @irispurpurea
A beautiful, heartbreaking exploration of Carlos' grief. It's all fragmented and non-linear, which only adds to how moving and powerful it is.
a little bit more by krissyloowhoo
An installment of a series in which TK and Carlos adopt a baby girl. This one features Carlos in love with what a good dad TK is.
Stand your brand of love by @ladytessa74
A Tarlos honeymoon fic written prior to the end of the season. This was a go-to reread for me in the weeks leading up to the finale. Even now, when it's no longer technically canon compliant, the emotions hit just as hard.
How I linger to admire by ladytessa74
This fic is pretty much my dream season 5. It has everything: Carlos solving his father's murder, TK and Carlos getting held at gunpoint, and Lou II saving the day. Several items on my wish list for season 5 were directly inspired by reading this fic.
Do it all over again by ladytessa74
TK tries for a do over of the proposal because he thinks Carlos deserves better, which leads to a series of funny, adorable and touching moments. The writing is beautiful, and it even inspired a cross stitch! I have many favorite things about Tessa's writing, but one of my very favorite things is the way she writes the intimacy and affection and touch between TK and Carlos. This fic is filled with some of my favorite examples of that.
All Your Colors Make Me Feel Alive by @lemonlyman-dotcom
This wonderful fic uses the music of Beck to explore moments in TK and Carlos' relationship. Angst and fluff: the best combination.
I'm Not A Fortress, But I Will Try To Protect You by lemonlyman-dotcom
TK and Marjan have a conversation in the wake of the events of 2x04. One of my favorite parts of Lemon's writing is the incredible amount of backstory detail, most particularly the friendship between TK and Marjan. There are hints of this in canon, but here it's beautifully developed and I love it so much.
Call Me If You Get Lost by lemonlyman-dotcom
TK and Carlos go for a romantic weekend while also looking out for a friend. This fic is a delight and so much fun!
Love From the Other Side by @lightningboltreader
Exes to lovers and only one bed...what could possibly be better?? I particularly enjoy the conversation between TK and Carlos that leads to their reconciliation.
We were in screaming color by @liminalmemories21
I was looking forward to this season 4 fic since before the season even started airing! I can imagine it must have been particularly difficult to write, from the ridiculous season 4 timeline to all the plotholes and inconsistencies that the Iris storyline and Carlos' sudden two sisters created, but it was done beautifully. It made me think about so many season 4 details and moments in different ways and ultimately led to an enhanced appreciation of the season.
I need you so much closer by @marjansmarwani
A 4x04 coda. This one focuses on all the many people who love Carlos. I always love to read about Carlos being loved!
where the empty space is a saving grace by @maxbegone
Carlos talks with Gwyn in the time before he's revived by TK and the narcan in 4x04. Beautiful and poignant.
etched in gold by maxbegone
A lovely little wedding moment where TK and Carlos get some alone time during the reception.
By Your Side by @never-blooms
The Reyes kitchen through the years. If there's anything that deserves more exploration, it's the Reyes family and all their complexities. This fic does an incredible job of this and is so beautifully written.
The Calling by @orchidscript
This is a fascinating and beautiful fic about TK using his experience with addiction to help people in the course of his job as a paramedic. It's something I would love so much for them to explore on the show!
Under A Star Spell by orchidscript
In this AU, Carlos practices folk magic. The fic itself is absolutely magical. One of the things I love about it is how different it is from pretty much every other Tarlos fic I've ever read.
Lost and Found by @paperstorm
A 4x04 coda (if there's one thing about me, it's that I love a 4x04 coda). I loved this episode so much but there was so much more I wanted, particularly to see what happened in the aftermath at the hospital, which is why this fic is so appreciated.
Ritual by paperstorm
An installment of Andie's spectacular Missing Moments series. I could easily have put every installment on this list, but I chose the one for 2x11, which is my favorite of the season 2 fics. I'm always a sucker for Carlos working through his feelings about his relationship with his parents!
The Firehouse by paperstorm
An incredible AU with TK and Carlos as childhood friends who meet again years later when Carlos is undercover and TK is living a life of crime. The angst in this one is spectacular, and the payoff is beautiful and earned and extraordinarily satisfying.
peace by @redshirt2
Carlos post-breakup. This little fic is heartbreaking and perfectly captures Carlos' desolate state of mind as he's left alone.
dream this night away by @reyesstrand
A pre-season 4 honeymoon fic where TK and Carlos end up in a motel after their flight is cancelled. A little bit of angst and a lot of love and tenderness.
to which there is no reply by reyesstrand
An absolutely gorgeous honeymoon fic, this time canon-compliant, that features Carlos struggling with his grief and being loved by his husband.
balancing act by reyesstrand
TK and Carlos sharing food and falling in love. What could possibly be better? This fic is so beautiful and it spans the entirety of their relationship. An incredible achievement and a true gift to readers!
the strong will never fall by @rmd-writes
Another 4x04 coda (I truly can never get enough). This one is incredibly tender and emotional.
shine some light on my day by @rosedavid
A sweet, fluffy, gentle fic about TK and Carlos waking up and getting ready for the day together. Domestic fluff at its finest!
and salt the earth behind you by @safeashousespdf
TK brings Carlos to New York 6 months after Gwyn's death and TK grapples with the ways things have changed and the ways he has changed. This fic is incredibly powerful. I read it months ago but I still think about it.
you and me, forevermore by @strandnreyes
A gorgeous wedding coda that made me cry multiple times.
Come what may, I'll still stay by strandnreyes
Carlos struggles with his work-life balance when he becomes a detective. It gets worse and worse until he makes a pretty big mistake that shows him just how bad things have gotten. Lots of angst, but also lots of happiness by the end and so much love permeating through every bit of it. This was one of the THE fics of the year for me and it still lives rent free in my brain!
no rules in breakable heaven by strandnreyes
An AU where Carlos takes a job as a private chef in the Hamptons for TK's family. Jen wrote so many incredible AUs this year, but this one was my favorite. Just the right amount of angst with a proportionately happy ending! And the descriptions of the food Carlos was preparing always made me very hungry.
As long as it's with you by @tailoredshirt
TK and Carlos spend their first Valentine's Day as husbands in the ER, but it's nothing too serious. This fic is mostly soft and sweet. I still think about it all the time, especially the little gestures and affectionate touches between them. It's a lovely little fic that's guaranteed to make you smile.
tell me how by @theghostofashton
Carlos and his grief leading up to the wedding. Beautiful and heartbreaking. I loved this so much.
Back to You and Me by @three-drink-amy
A lovely 4x16 coda. In celebration of finding out that TK doesn't have to worry about Huntington's, TK and Carlos go back to the honky tonk where it all began!
The Weight of Grief by @wandering-night19
This is an absolutely riveting fic that has TK near-death in a coma (again). It's poignant and heartbreaking. One scene in particular in the final chapter makes me want to cry just thinking about it! Some chapters deal with Andrea and Gabriel backstory, which eventually links up to the ongoing story in the present. The whole thing is so well written and beautifully constructed.
living at the centre of a wound still fresh by @welcometololaland
A heartbreaking, beautiful masterpiece of a fic. Carlos struggles with his grief on their honeymoon, but TK is there to help him through. Just thinking about this one makes me want to cry...and also reread!
a long time ago (we used to be friends) by welcometololaland
A masterpiece of an AU, exes to lovers with private investigator Carlos and wrongly accused of murder TK. They work together to clear TK's name and come back together in a beautiful way.
96 notes
·
View notes
Text
Each week Lone Star Daily looks to provide you with a decent (not comprehensive) list of the fanfics that have been posted for the week. The week runs from Friday - Thursday, as that way it does give us an opportunity to put the list together. There’s no requirement to tag us as we will check the tags #911 lone star fic and #911lsfic while also combing through ao3. We currently are only going to post new fics, not updates. You can check out this week’s fics below the cut.
Please feel free to give this post a boost to give our writers a chance to receive some love for the work they do for the fandom.
(if your fic is not tagged with a tumblr, it’s because we couldn’t find one - feel free to send us a message and we’ll be happy to add one)
TARLOS FICS
Among My Stillness Was a Pounding Heart by @tailoredshirt
↳ (TK x Carlos | Proposal Fic | T | 3958)
TK took a deep breath. “I think we need to talk about what happened last fall. With the loft.”
Carlos’s brain was skipping around from one feeling to the next like a pinball. “With…when we broke up?”
“Yeah.”
“You…want to talk about the breakup,” Carlos said slowly. “While I’m proposing to you.”
TK squeezed his hands. “Yes. Please.”
What is time but the relentless passage to the inevitable by @sapphire11
↳ (Andrea x TK, TK x Carlos | Hurt/Comfort | T | 8084)
They were finally in a great place and they thought they had all the time in the world for which they were planning amazing things. What happens when TK gets a phone call that causes time to speed up at the same time as it potentially stops? TK has to lean on his family in order to get through the devastating situation until time begins to move normally again. If it ever begins normally again, TK swears he’ll never waste another second.
Set about 3 years into the future from near the end of Season 3.
Forever In Your Eyes by @chaotictarlos
↳ (TK x Carlos | Hurt/Comfort | M | 2312)
Carlos gets hurt and TK learns what it’s like to be on the other side of the bed.
you’re tethered to another (and you’re worried all the time) by @doublel27
↳ (TK x Carlos, TK x daughter, Carlos x Daughter | Future Kid Fic | T | 6307 )
Raising a teenager was never going to easy, but it can feel infinitely harder when your child's present bumps up against the past.
I Don't Want To Live Life Without You by @introverted-explorer
↳ (TK x Carlos | Spec Fic | T | 920 )
“I can’t lose him too,” TK all but whispered, voice hoarse with disuse. Carlos isn’t even entirely sure he had said anything until he looked over at TK’s strained expression.
Gwyn’s death had hit him hard, but losing a man he so clearly saw as a part of his life, for the rest of it, was something surely to be downright painful. If not for himself, for his partner, and the future they were so sure they would have. “I know, baby. He -”
“No.” TK cuts him off, looking directly into his eyes. Carlos can feel the anxiety and grief in his core. “You don’t get it, Carlos. If he dies, I have no one.”
Then love knew it was called love by @tailoredshirt
↳ (TK x Carlos | Fluff | G | 1137)
After being away for two weeks, Carlos comes home to TK.
More than a little stomach flu by @sapphire11
↳ (TK x Carlos | Hurt/Comfort | G | 4304)
Carlos thinks he's caught the stomach bug that's spreading throughout the first responder community. Only it's something much more serious.
Save a Horse by @chicgeekgirl89
↳ (TK x Carlos | Domestic Fluff | T | 3096)
T.K. heads out to the ranch for the weekend and gets to see a whole new side of Carlos.
Words by @ravens-words
↳ (TK x Carlos, TK x Gwyn | Fluff and Angst | T | 964)
Tarlos in NY when Gwyn gives birth.
Blood on the tracks, fire in the hills by thenorthface
↳ (TK x Carlos, Carlos x OG Character | Breaking Up & Making Up | M | 11356)
Fifteen months after they broke up, Carlos and T.K. are thrown together again at the scene of a murder
Silhouettes with no regrets by @bluenet13
↳ (TK x Carlos | Domestic Fluff | T | 2121)
TK and Carlos + watching Heartstopper = Lots of feelings, emotional conversations, and other fun times on the couch.
you’ve got to be kitten me! by percvjackson
↳ (TK x Carlos | Domestic Fluff | T | 1043 )
tk and carlos got a cat, but the cat doesn't seem very fond of one of it's owners
code seven by falloutmars
↳ (TK x Carlos, Carlos x 126 | Coda | T | 1373)
It’s a slow and boring shift when the text comes in, and Carlos is grateful for that, both for the text and the way it interrupts his already long day. Oftentimes, he’ll be in the middle of some important paperwork when he gets texts like this and has to decline, or, worse, at a scene and only able to ignore his phone until it’s too late to head over. On those days, he just hopes TK packs him some leftovers.
But today, Carlos is lucky. A slow crime day is always good and safer—despite it being boring—but it’s even better when your boyfriend texts inviting you over to investigate a code seven.
don’t go blindly into the dark by @kiras-sunshine
↳ (TK x Carlos | AU | T | 68587)
TK never thought that one of the most urgent problems in his life would be finding a good pediatrician out of Austin, Texas. To be fair, he never thought he would be a single parent and living in Austin, and that he would buy a small house just out of city center, but life has a funny way of keeping surprising him in the most unexpected of moments.
126 FICS
fun and games (and friendly discussions) by falloutmars
↳ (Nancy x Mateo, TK x Carlos | Coda | T | 2717)
the gang discuss the news of Nancy and Mateo's relationship.
CHARACTER FICS / OTHER PAIRINGS
The Stain You Can’t Wash Out by @marjansmarwani
↳ (Owen, Owen x TK | Coda | N/R | 4752)
In Owen’s experience, guilt went hand in hand with grief.
—
An(other) Owen character study that wouldn’t leave me alone after 3x16
41 notes
·
View notes
Note
The way you explain Carlos’ anxiety is so well done and real and honest and I just wish that Lone Star would delve into this side of him more and mention it to explain his control freak tendencies, his fear of disappointing everyone, his constant avoidance and lies and secret keeping, his demand for openness from others that is really projecting of his own inability to be open, and really let him show that under his cool, calm exterior that he presents to everyone (and I didn’t think it before, but after s4 e1 with his false smile and tense hands and face, even TK) that he’s a shell of the person he is and allow him to finally be able to let this anxiety out. I’d love a fic exploration of it and honestly I’m surprised it’s not spoken about more.
Well thank you very kindly *tips imaginary cowboy hat* I would also love it if the show would delve a little deeper into this side of him. The man desperately needs therapy and I'd be so happy if they took some time to get at those aspects of his trauma and personality. I also am not holding my breath, because this is an ensemble show with TEN MAIN CHARACTERS which is utterly massive and they are just logistically never going to have time to dive as deep into any of them as we would want. Lots of fics do explore it tho! I can't think of any of the top of my head where Carlos's anxiety is the main plot but it's a recurring theme in tons of awesome fanfiction, and not just mine.
13 notes
·
View notes
Note
I know you’re not a fan of angst, but honestly? I think it’s such a great writer’s tool, and one that I love kinda no matter what. It makes me feel so much for all the characters, and there’s something about angst that expands upon characters much more much quicker than other forms - I really enjoyed the TK angst in the first season, mostly bc it was so close to my own story, and I found myself healing again through him. And I’m excited for more angst to come :):):) just to be clear I totally am not railing on your taste of fluff, bc I do need fluff so much...I’m just expressing my excitement over the possibility of more exploration of TK’s pain and anxiety, which I have no doubts we’ll get :):):):):) I hope they give us carlos angst for the same reasons, bc he deserves some character depth too and also some comfort cuddles from his boo :)
I have absolutely nothing but respect for angst, Anon :) It’s not my personal first preference to read, that’s all. But, I do read it, and I do love it when I’m in the mood for it, and I do appreciate it. I’ve actually written a number of angsty things myself, and I’ve been told they’re quite good. So, I do know the power of angst and how great of a tool it is for a writer.
I just prefer to spend my free time reading fics featuring fluff and happiness instead of suffering and pain, that’s all. 🤷🏻♂️
#ugh#this was a very frustrating ask#I don't really know where it came from#other than I read an angsty fic yesterday that a friend of mine wrote#and then jokingly asked for fluff in the tags#which was harmless#so whatever#I almost replied with a billion other things#but I'm just not in the mood#I did want to clarify though#I don't hate angst or anyone who writes it#I don't hate that angst happens on the show#or that it happens in a lot of fics#I'm actually looking forward to more happening on the show too#and I'm sure I'll read hundreds more angst fics before I die#I know this ask wasn't written or sent to be anything but that what it says it is#but now I'm on-edge#it's a 'me' thing - ignore me#Anonymous#asks
6 notes
·
View notes
